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Skills

Graphics

I've always been a very visual person and have worked with graphics for many years.
Photoshop
Photoshop

I have been using Photoshop since 1998, including 4 years using it almost every day.
In Design
In Design

I have a good knowledge of managing large print projects using this desk top publishing software, the largest of which was the Wildcat Catalogue with 192 pages full colour A4 and over 3,000 products.
Print
Print

I have had close working relations with print houses and have a good knowledge of graphics preparation for print.
Photography
Photography

I've always been interested in photography and whilst working for wildcat I learned a great deal about macro photography and how to make products look great.

Web Design

I've been a web designer and developer for about 8 years. At university we were forced to code everything by hand and I've continued to do so ever since. I am competent with dreamweaver and am keen to get more into it but I consider knowing how to code by hand a great advantage.
Flash
Flash

Flash has been an interest of mine since 2000. I have an excellent knowledge of Actionscript and building complex sites. I very much enjoy adding physics simulations to my graphics. I've made many advertising banners for well known companies but in recent years have been moving away from flash content.
Html
Html

I rarely create pure html sites. More often I use html within a php script to create dynamic pages. I can use Dreamweaver but tend to write code by hand. I am aware of xhtml guidelines and comply with them as much as possible.
CSS
CSS

I love css because it allows me to separate my design from my content. I can produce tableless web designs but often find that using a few tables is the most elegant and browser friendly solution.
Javascript
Javascript

I have a basic and growing understanding of javascript since it is almost identical to actionscript. I have implemented some clever 'off the shelf' javascripts in my sites to make them more visually stimulating. But for functionality I use them sparingly. I've been using Google Maps in my sites and experimenting with AJAX.
Xml
Xml

I sometimes use xml to store data, or to transport files of data between online and local systems.

Php & MySql

I have a lot of experience in using open source php & MySql web applications. I can install, customise and design themes for sites such as Drupal, Wordpress and Joomla. Recently I have been coding my own php pages which I've connected to custom built MySql databases.
Drupal
Drupal

My favourite CMS. Drupal is the most flexible of all the content managers and also one of the most powerful. It's highly modular and elegantly coded. I consider Drupal an excellent solution for almost any web project, which is why I've used it exclusively for the last 2 years.
Ubercart
Ubercart

The Ubercart webshop module for Drupal is excellent. If you are considering building a webshop with tons of great features, scalable to any size with the back end power of one of the best content managers around then you can't do much better that ubercart. Plus of course, it's all open source.
osCommerse
osCommerse

This was once the best open source software available. I wouldn't suggest anyone use it these days as it's a complete pain to work with and the back end code is a real mess. Maybe they'll bring out a new version one day, but I think this project is over.
Phorum
Phorum

If you need a simple forum website then Phorum is a very nice solution. It's very quick and powerful but I would usually point people towards using Wordpress these days.
Gallery2
Gallery2

This is definitely the best open source gallery software there is. It has a very active community who regularly make great updates to their software. Cutting edge stuff.

3d Graphics & Animation

I've always been very good at visualising and manipulating objects in 3d space, so 3d computer graphics has always come quite naturally to me. I've done some interesting 3d work and would really love to sink my teeth in some full on 3d projects.
3D Studio Max
3D Studio Max

3dsMax was the main software I used for years. I have a good knowledge of various modelling, animation and rendering techniques. I haven't used 3dsMax for ages, blender is just way too much fun.
Blender
Blender

Over the last few years I've been using Blender for my 3d work. Although it's open source there are many advantages of using it over other software. It can be used to make very tidy 3d meshes and has seemingly limitless potential. They have recently added a stack of new features including the ability to sculpt and paint models like in Z-brush. I like it a lot.
Z-Brush
Z-Brush

An excellent program used mainly for modelling beautiful organic objects in real time. You literally paint in 3d using a graphics tablet. I love it and can create very high quality models using it. I usually make models in Z-Brush and put them in 3dsMax or Blender to animate or render them. The Poibot 3d model for my dvd cover was created in Z-brush.

Video

I find moving images far more interesting than static graphics. I have a great deal of experience with producing video for web and in 2006 I produced a 90 minute dvd. I really enjoy editing video and hope to get the chance to do more of it.
Sony Vegas
Sony Vegas

Vegas is my preferred editor, although I also have a basic understanding of Premiere and After Effects.
Production
Production

I have acquired much knowledge about the production process: Filming, Capture, Storage, Editing, Rendering, Compression, DVD Authoring, File Formats, Codecs and so on, for both web video and dvd.
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